Results 4,341-4,360 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Human Rights (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy. I am glad to have an opportunity to update the House on this issue. Ireland's National Plan on Business and Human Rights 2017-2020 was launched towards the end of 2017. Ireland was the 19th country in the world to publish such a plan in response to the endorsement of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights by the Human Rights Council in 2011....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Funding (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: This issue has been raised repeatedly in the House since it emerged and I have repeatedly expressed my concern about the designation of six Palestinian NGOs, including organisations in receipt of support from Irish Aid and the EU, as terrorist entities. Ireland is fully committed to funding civil society organisations and human rights defenders in Palestine as a key part of our support for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Funding (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: I have no reason to believe that funding to those civil society organisations should be cut or removed. My Department and myself are satisfied that the relationship we have with both Al-Haq and Addameer gives us reassurance that these organisations are doing good work and should be supported in doing so. My understanding from our engagement is that the Commission's consideration of the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Funding (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: My officials have met with Commission officials in Brussels with regard to the designations and the EU decision to suspend funding. Since this debate began on the back of the announcement that was made by Israeli authorities, of course, we have been open to looking at any evidence that may be provided. However, as of yet, I have seen no evidence to suggest that the organisation we fund or,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service is currently experiencing high demand for first time passports. In order to protect the integrity of the Irish passport, when processing a first time application, the Passport Service must validate the identity of the applicant and confirm their entitlement to Irish citizenship. In the case of first time passport applications for children, the consent of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: On 6 January, I met with the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Elizabeth Truss, M.P. This followed calls between us in October and December last year. We discussed the ongoing EU-UK discussions on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, bilateral relations, developments in Northern Ireland and current foreign policy priorities. With regard to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department’s Reconciliation Fund was established in 1982 to support civil society organisations in creating a better understanding between people and traditions on the island of Ireland, and between Ireland and Britain. The Fund has supported over 3,000 projects with more than €60 million in grant funding since its establishment. In spring 2021, I approved a new...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: Ireland's international development policy, A Better World, published in 2019, guides Ireland's humanitarian and development responses to those in need, in particular those affected by war, famine and other disasters. In the 2020 peer review of Ireland’s development cooperation programme, the OECD's Development Assistance Committee (DAC) highlighted Ireland as "an excellent...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: In 2021 the government decided to re-establish an Irish diplomatic presence in Iran in two phases. The first phase began in August 2021 with the appointment of a Chargé d’Affaires in Tehran, with the Irish diplomatic mission co-located in the German Embassy in Tehran. The Irish Embassy in Ankara remains accredited to Iran. The second phase will involve the re-opening of a full...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: Both Ireland’s Foreign Policy for a Changing World, Global Island, and ' Ireland's Strategy for Africa to 2022 acknowledge the importance of sustaining the work of civil society organisations and the vital role they play in building peaceful, inclusive and prosperous societies. In addition, A Better World, Ireland's policy for international development published in 2019, recognises...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: A Better World, the Government's policy for international development, establishes gender equality as a policy priority. Globally, gender-based violence has increased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions. Ireland is among OECD countries with the highest annual proportion of official development assistance (ODA) invested in gender equality measures, including...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department is aware of the issues raised by the individual concerned. The former Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva met with the individual concerned on 2nd March 2016. The current Ambassador met with the individual concerned on 29 July 2019 and again on 16 September 2021. Ireland has raised the issue of the release of the names of NGO delegates to UN Member States and received...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: Afghanistan is now the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Nearly 23 million Afghans face acute food insecurity. The UN launched its largest ever humanitarian funding appeal on 11 January seeking approximately $5 billion to meet the immense needs within Afghanistan and of Afghan refugees in the region. A donor-pledging conference on Afghanistan is likely to take place in March and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: I updated the House on the question of Ireland’s accession to the Antarctic Treaty System on 30 September 2021. I was also pleased to participate in the Seanad debate on the Antarctic Treaty System on 8 December 2021, and to provide a further update at that time. As I noted, the Department of Foreign Affairs has tasked a number of Embassies accredited to countries of comparable...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 32, 38, 40, 45, 50, 56, 62, 64, 66, 67, 69, 75, 80 and 85 together. Passport Service operations were severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, as were many Government services. The Passport Service maintained operations throughout the pandemic, notwithstanding the fact that the processing of passports requires physical attendance on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 26 together. The full implementation and effective operation of the Good Friday Agreement and all subsequent agreements is a central priority for this Government. The Agreements, as well as the principles and values underpinning them, are at the core of the Government’s commitment to peace, reconciliation and prosperity on this island. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: As part of the Government’s commitment to supporting the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement and maintaining strong relationships, I remain in regular contact with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the First Minister and deputy First Minister and party leaders, as well as other civil society, business and religious leaders in Northern Ireland , In the past three...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 58 together. Ireland remains active in discussions on Afghanistan both at EU level and at the UN Security Council, where it has featured regularly on the agenda since the Taliban takeover in August 2021. Promoting human rights and the protection of civilians are key priorities for Ireland on the Security Council. We have consistently advocated for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has strongly and consistently supported the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine as I have conveyed personally to Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, on a number of occasions over the past year. Ireland is concerned by the build-up of Russian troops on its border with Ukraine and I continue to call on Russia to de-escalate tensions. In my own remarks, I have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: Yemen is the world's worst humanitarian crisis, driven by seven years of conflict, economic collapse and the breakdown of public institutions and services which has left over 24 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. Ireland and the European Union fully support the efforts of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, to bring about a political resolution to the conflict in...